Legal Surgery with Harbottle & Lewis

Ed Lane

Partner, Harbottle & Lewis

Ed advises founders, businesses and investors on a broad range of corporate, corporate finance and commercial matters.

He has a particular interest and expertise in the creative industries, including film and TV, video games and music, and in the broader media, entertainment and technology sectors.

His practice spans mergers and acquisitions, fundraises from pre-seed to series A and beyond, startups, growth equity investments, public takeovers, joint ventures, management incentive arrangements, including EMI options, and SEIS/EIS investments. He is actively involved as a speaker and mentor for a number of different industry accelerators and trade bodies, including Indielab, BAFTA and UKIE.

Clare McGarry

Film, TV and Theatre Lawyer, Harbottle & Lewis

Clare is a managing associate at Harbottle & Lewis specialising in film, TV and theatre law. 

Clare advises on a broad range of commercial and IP matters across the film, TV and theatre industries, including the development, production, financing and distribution of film, TV and theatre projects and the acquisition, protection and exploitation of rights/IP and content.

Clare works with clients of all sizes and types within the film, TV and theatre sectors, from individual producers, talent and small independent production companies, to major SVODs, high profile production companies, studios and content financiers. She also specialises in advising rightsholders who wish to protect and exploit their IP and rights. Clare works across all genres of film and television, including scripted, unscripted and animation.

Clare is described in listed as a Key Lawyer in The Legal 500 and is described as ‘a key contact for independent producers and rights holders’ and ‘a pleasure to work with. Fantastic attention to detail and very responsive to client requests. Runs matters efficiently and inspires confidence in her clients’. Clare has also been ranked as a Rising Star by IP Stars.

Clare presents at numerous industry events, including BAFTA Elevate and Indielab.

Mark Primrose

Employment Lawyer, Harbottle & Lewis

Mark advises companies and individuals in respect of all matters concerning employment law, workplace issues and contracts for services.

He frequently advises employers and employees navigating complex situations and has particular experience in various sectors, including theatre, film, television and video games, alongside technology, banking and finance.

Mark advises on grievances, disciplinaries and performance improvement plans and has extensive experience in negotiating settlement agreements, including at senior executive level. He often represents employees and employers in the agreement of employment contract and incentive terms and is adept at drafting complex bespoke documents to meet each client’s unique requirements. He also frequently represents claimants and respondents in employment tribunal proceedings, including those relating to discrimination and whistleblowing, and in respect of the enforcement of post-termination restrictions. Mark is a specialist in the areas of IR35 and employment and worker status, particularly in the entertainment sector.